House to return tonight as McCarthy tries to nail down final speaker votes … Updated just now  —  Today, the majority Republican House voted to adjourn until 10 p.m. Eastern to allow two supporters of Kevin McCarthy's speaker bid to return to Washington and give supporters …

Enablers, line-straddlers and quiet resisters: How GOP lawmakers contributed to Jan. 6  —  A handful of Republicans who remained in the Jan. 6 committee's sights throughout its investigation are now leading the effort to deny Kevin McCarthy the speakership — using their power to bring the House to a standstill.

McCarthy's Speaker Proposal Tees Up $75 Billion Defense Cut  —  The emerging deal Kevin McCarthy is discussing to make him speaker of the House would propose a roughly $75 billion cut in defense spending at a time when the US is intent on backing Ukraine against the Russian invasion and grows …

Biden Gets a Political Gift on Jan. 6 Anniversary With GOP's Capitol Mutiny  —  The second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol arrives with the building again in turmoil, this time as House Republicans quarrel over a speaker to lead the chamber.

Corporations have given over $50 million to the Sedition Caucus … On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters — emboldened by then-President Trump's call to “fight like hell” — stormed the Capitol Building in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Conservative leader Matt Schlapp is accused of fondling a male campaign staffer in Georgia  —  WASHINGTON — Matt Schlapp, one of the nation's most prominent conservative leaders and a top ally of former President Donald Trump, is being accused of sexually groping a male aide …

Suzanne Malveaux is leaving CNN after 20 years  —  The national correspondent, who is the long-term partner of Karine Jean-Pierre, will focus on a new collaboration with the family of Nelson Mandela  —  After 20 years at CNN, national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is leaving the network Friday.

Federal Election Commission flags issues with contributions to Santos campaign  —  The Federal Election Commission has flagged issues with contributions made to embattled Rep.-elect George Santos' campaign, according to a letter addressed to the New York Republican's fundraising committee this week.

Judge suspends law license of lawyer for Alex Jones following Sandy Hook document leaks  —  A Connecticut judge suspended the law license of a lawyer for right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones after he allegedly improperly released court documents from the Sandy Hook defamation case.

December jobs report: Payrolls rise by 223,000, unemployment rate falls to 3.5%  —  The Labor Department published the final jobs report of 2022 on Friday.  —  December's jobs report, the last read on U.S. job growth in 2022, showed the labor market remained strong at the end of the year …

Federal judges strike down SC's 1st Congressional District as racial gerrymandering  —  South Carolina lawmakers drew the coastal 1st Congressional District held by Republican Nancy Mace in such a way that it discriminates against Black voters and must be recrafted by the end of March, a panel of federal judges has concluded.

‘CORPORATE KINGDOM’: DeSantis-backed plan to take control of Disney's land announced  —  Planned legislation would replace Disney's self-governing powers with state run board: DeSantis sources  —  Floridians react to Disney's “wokeness” after DeSantis passes Parental Rights in Education bill

A Moscow diary: fear, loathing and deep denial  —  Champagne still flows at elite parties in the Russian capital, as cowed critics only speak openly in their own homes  —  It's the holiday season in Moscow, where the city has put up symbols of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine outside …

Trump Special Counsel Probe Adds Two Anti-Corruption Prosecutors  —  The special counsel investigating former President Donald Trump brought on two current and former long-time career prosecutors experienced in handling complex public corruption cases, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Police and the Press  —  The Wall Street Journal is demanding answers from the Phoenix Police Department after an officer detained and handcuffed one of its reporters outside a Chase Bank — an incident that press freedom advocates say raises First Amendment concerns and mirrors a larger …